Instrument for laying out workpieces three-dimensionally



J. A. VERNON 2,670,544

INSTRUMENT FOR LAYING OUT WORKPIECES THREE-DIMENSIONALLY March 2, 1954 Filed April 1, 1953 INVENTOR. JaH/v A. VEK/vo/v F/a. Z

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Patented Mar. 2, 1954 msrnnlunnnron Lain-Na oU'nWoR'K- .PIECESTHREE-DIMENSIONALLY IohnAIVenion, PhiladelphialPa.

.sApplicationApril- 1, 1953, Serial No. $36,289

{Gran-ted under. Title 35,:Ur S. Code :(1952),

sec. 266) "The inventiorr'des'cribed' hereinimay :be main:- factured and used by or for the Government of the United" States of Am'erica" for igovernmental purposes without the paymentrof anymoyalties thereon or therefor.

This application is a T continuation: in part-of my application, Serial No. 625A2iyfiled October 29, 1945, now' abandoned.

"The present invention pertains-to the: art of making workpiece layouts; as practieedfinmanufactoring plants andi'the'like. The: principles of the .inventiomare. embodied in a simple and low cost modificatiorrot. astandard -box. parallel, and more particularly the invention is. embodied in-a layout device that ls'operable t'ohold a workpiece for three-dimension layout measurements The instrumentof the invention permits a quick and accurate inspection' 'or "setup of? a workpiece and mayi ice-embodied in any available boxparallel.

Inspectors; toolmakers and machinists often use the common adjustable knee in checking 'or setting-up: the alignment of any piece of work. These knees have'a surface towhich Work can be'clamped' and which sur'face'can betilted to anydesired-angle-as indicated on a vernierscale. However, commercial knees have only one angle of adjustment, necessitating a-separate setup for each angle on compound angle fittings. This slows up quantity production and causes variations "in? product.

By using the device of the present invention it is'possible to set up work torona'two; or three angles," for three-dimension measurements, adiustments for at least on'edimen'sion being enabled alternatively through oppositely "directed angles. This is particularly advantageousin the manufacture or" large quantities of aircraft or other workpieces which combine longitudinal, transverse and vertical angles. "Every'workpiece can' be' identical and correct at one setting. *Furthermore', the d'evice of the presentinvention may in many instances eliminate thedelay'and ex pense of making special jigs and fixtures.

further advantage" of this invention is that it obviates the need for the ordinary one-angle adjustableknee by being attachable to the commen-box parallel.

'-A"further object is to provide-"an adjustable knee having the features and. characteristics set forth andprovided with a work-supporting platformand a work-ho1ding clamp.

A- still further object of the invention is to provide three graduated-scales thereon so that any angle can be: accurately set to the required degree.

. The principles'of the inventiontand its-. advantages will be more fully understood; from the :disclosure of a practicalembod'iment thereof in .the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of adevicefembodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the-device of Fig. 1,

a Fig; 3- is a detailed cross-sectional; elevation, takenon line'3--3 of Fig; 2, and

Fig. 4 is;a crossasectionalplan;=taken onifline 4--4'of Fig.2.

Box parallel, Figs.- 1,2 and*4, is -a-standard commercial product; :of which.allcsurfaeesv5 are precisely flat and rectangular-,andin which-each surface 5 is disposed precisely at right angles .to every other: of its-"adjacent surfacesffi. -When the box parallel I is "in: position for practice of the invention, it. rests on: the flat surf ace 5110f a suriaceplate for-example. Top face Ml: of the severalsurfacese" constitutesa- :datum surface. and platen 4 is-mountedon thetbox parallel: t to be movablewinto =0r1 outof parallel relationship with: datum surface 46.

Panels--35. project downwardly-away -from-:respective opposite edges oi the platen 4; and these comprise each the arcuate slots 3"! and 38. "A thumb screw- 2 :is projected througheach slot 31, and .-similarly athumb screw e3 is ,-proj ected through each slot,-3-8,' the several screws 2 and *3 being threaded into opposite faces 35 of the. =box parallel: I that areflperpendicular to" datum surface 48,- to secure platen- 4- tothe box; parallel.-

Panels 36- 'are respective opposite side panels -of the-platen i, and-are positioned-each adjacent to a -side face-35 of the box parallel. "Screws! are a-setofv two for respective-opposite arcua-te slots 31, are disposed in coaxial alignment, and are perpendicular to the parallet planes of 0pposite-i side faces 35. 1 Similarly, screws 3 are. .a set'of two for respective opposite slots 38pared-isposed in coaxial alignment; and are perpendicular-to the parallel planes ofoppcsite side faces'35.

The upper ends-390i the set of opposite slots 38*of' the severalopp'osite: panels 35 bear-each ona screw 3 of the set, and-constitutes a bearing on which the'platen d may swing alternatively into or out" of parallel'with datum surf'ace10. Theseveral arcuate slots 3! 'describeeach an are on "the axis of bearing 39 as a center, and cons'titute guideways along which their screws 2 travel when platen 4 swings-on the-common ai tis of-screws Scale l-T'al'on'g' slot 31 servesfor 3 reading the angular displacement of platen 4 when it is rotated on the common axis of its bearings 39.

In a similar manner, the upper ends 4| of the set of slots 31 of the several panels 36 bear each on a screw 2 of the set, and constitutes a bearing on which the platen 4 may swing alternatively into or out of parallel with datum surface 40. The several arcuate slots 38 describe each an are on the axis of bearing 4| as center, and constitute guideways along which their screws 3 travel.

' A scale along a slot 38, and similar to scale may be provided for reading angular displacement of platen 4 when it is rotated on the common axis of its bearings 4|.

The axes of the several sets of screws 2 and 3 are parallel to each other, and parallel to the corner edges 33 and 34 of the box parallel corner edges 33 and 34 being opposite end edges of the datum surface 4!]. The platen 4 may be rotated on either of two angles alternatively, of the respective sets of pins 2 and 3, the two angles of rotation being directed oppositely with reference to datum surface 40. When both sets of bearings 4| and 39 of respective slots 31 and 38 bear upon their companion sets of pivot pins 2 and 3 respectively, platen 4 is held in position parallel with the datum face 40 of box parallel I.

Plate 8 is mounted on platen 4, to swing on the hinge pin 9 into and out of the plane of platen 4. Cutout l of platen contains plate 8 when it is positioned in the plane of platen 4, and stop 23, Figs. 1 and 2, bears against the top surface of platen 4 to hold plate 8 in the plane of the platen.

.Plate 8 comprises a rest or platform on which a workpiece |2 bears when it is supported by the layout instrument of the present invention.

Block N, Fig. 2, is rigidly secured to plate 8 to constitute a fixed jaw of a clamp or vise, of which companion member 44 is the movable jaw. Movable jaw 44 is guided by the slot 45 in the plate 8 to traverse towards or away from the fixed jaw H by means of the traversing screw l8 threaded through nut l5 which is rigidly secured to plate 8 by welding or the like. The knurled head l3 of traversing screw I0 may be rotated manually to clamp a workpiece l2 in, or release it from, the jaws H and 44.

The axis of hinge pin 9 is at right angles to the parallel axes of the sets of bearing ends 4| and 39 of respective sets of slots 31 and 38, and at right angles to the corner edge 34 of the box parallel l. Thus, in addition to the angular displacement of workpiece l2 alternatively along oppositely directed angles with reference to datum face 40 by means of the respective several sets of trunnions 2 and 3, the workpiece I2 may be displaced along an angle at right angles to each of the angles of axes 2 and 3 with reference to datum face 40, and this constitutes an angle of a second co-ordinate of three-dimensional adjustment.

Nut I4 is threaded on traverse screw 10, and carries the clevis or bracket l6 secured thereto, from which pointer rod I8 is pivotally suspended to extend downwardly alongside one of the panels 36. Clevis or bracket 2| is secured to the side panel 36 by welding or the like, and bolt 26 is carried by the bracket 2 I. See Fig. 3. Rod l8 passes through bolt 2|! transversely. and through the sleeve 48 that fits around the bolt. Rod l8 slides lengthwise through the bolt 20 and sleeve 48 when plate 8 swings towards or away from the plane of platen 4 on the axis of binge pin 9. Nut 22 of bolt 20 is tightened to clamp the rod l8 and 4 hold it in position of lengthwise adjustment, thereby holding the workpiece 2 in position of angular displacement with reference to datum face 40 around the axis of pivot 9.

Gage plate I9 is secured by welding or the like to the same side panel 36 that carries the clevis 2|, and extends along the path described by the tip 41 of rod 8 when the plate 8 swings on hinge pin 9. Scale 46, along the edge of gage plate I9, is preferably calibrated to uniform increments of angular displacement of the plate 8 around the axis of hinge pin 9. The tip 41 of rod |8 constitutes a pointer that indicates the angle of displacement of workpiece l2 with reference to datum face 40 on the axis of hinge pin 9.

It will be noted that the nut l4 travels along the traverse screw I0 when the screw is adjusted to clamp a workpiece l2 in jaws II and 44. Thus, nut |4 maintains a fixed position with reference to the stationary nut l5, and also with reference to the axis of hinge pin 9. The center of rotation of pointer rod "3 therefore is not displaced with reference to the axis of hinge pin 9 constituting the center of rotation of plate 8, and readings along the scale 46 are accurate for any setting of movable jaw 44 in accordance with workpiece |2 of given thickness.

Plate 8 is large enough to include almost the entire area of platen 4, leaving only a narrow margin of metal along its edges outside the cutout l. Panels 36 serve to reinforce two of the opposite edges of panel 4. There is a deficiency of metal along the other two opposite edges, which is reinforced by strips 3| welded along the bottom surface of the platen to prevent it from sagging under the weight of its load.

For angular displacement around the third coordinate of three-dimensional adjustment, box parallel is rotated on corner edge 50, Fig. 4, as a center of rotation, which is diagonally opposite the corner edge 49 that is seen in Fig. 1.

There is attached to the face 5| of the surface plate on which the box parallel rests, an angle plate that provides the upright surface 52 disposed perpendicular to the surface 5|. The corner edge 50. which is perpendicular to the datum face 49, engages the upright surface 52 and serves as a vertical center of rotation 50 for the box parallel The angle seen in Fig. 4 between face 35 of box parallel and upright surface 52 the angle of displacement around the corner edge Ell.

The instrument of the disclosed embodiment includes the rod 25 for reading the angular displacement on corner edge 50 as the axis of rotation. Rod 25 is positioned along an end face of box parallel between, and perpendicular to, opposite side faces 35, and projects beyond one of the faces 35 into abutting engagement with the upright surface 52.

Bracket .28 is secured to the box parallel l by means of the cap screw 29 for example to project beyond an end face thereof. journaled in bracket 28 on an axis which is parallel with the side face 35 and perpendicular to the datum face 49. Rod 25 passes transverse- 1y through the shaft 21 perpendiucular to the axis thereof, and through the sleeve '53 around the shaft, comprising a guideway for lengthwise travel of the rod 25 that is perpendicular to the axis of shaft 21. Head 24 of rod 25 comprises an end face for th rod that is at right angles to its length. Thus, when the head 24 abuts against the upright surface 52 as illustrated in Fig. 4, the

Shaft 21 is.

r rod 25 thereby projects perpendicularly away from upright surface 52.

Shaft 2'! is in the form of a bolt, and the thumb nut 30 is threaded thereto. The thumb nut 39 may be tightened for clamping rod 25 in position of its lengthwiseadjustment by means of the sleeve 53, the clamping action being similar to that of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Rod 25 is provided with a graduated scale 26 along its length, which preferably is calibrated to equal increments of angular displacement of the box parallel i around the center of rotation of the corner edge 58 in engagement with the upright surface 52. With the thumb nut 30 retracted, the rod 25 is adjusted lengthwise to the desired angle of displacement with reference to the ordinate of corner edge 55 as determined by the scale 26. The nut 36 is then tightened. With the head 24 bearing squarely against surface 52, and the corner =50 also abutting against surface 52, the workpiece I2 is thus set to the third angle of displacement with reference to datum face 40, which constitutes a third co-ordinate of threedimensional adjustment.

The workpiece H. was arbitrarily selected to illustrate the principles, operation and use of the device of the present invention. It will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific workpiece l2 that is shown.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such disclosure, and it is contemplated that changes and modifications therein and thereto may be made within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A work holder comprising a box parallel, a platen adjacent to a predetermined face of the box parallel and positionable in a plane parallel therewith, the box parallel comprising a pivotal mount for the platen to swing towards and away from the adjacent face of the box parallel, the pivotal axis of the platen being parallel with a datum edge of the adjacent face of the box parallel, a work-holding device, the platen comprising a pivotal mount for the work-holding device to swing towards and away from the plane of the platen, the pivotal axis of the work-holding device being at right angles to the pivotal axis of the platen when the platen is positioned parallel with it adjacent face of the box parallel, the pivotal mount for the platen being positioned in the box parallel adjacent a datum edge of the adjacent face of the box parallel, an alternative pivotal mount for the platen positioned in the box parallel adjacent to the edge of the adjacent face of the box parallel that is opposite the first datum 6 edge, the axes of the several pivotal mounts bein parallel with each other.

2. In a work holder as defined in claim 1, each of the pivotal mounts comprising a set of trunnions projecting from faces of the box parallel, the several trunnions of a set projecting from respectiv opposite faces that are opposite side faces with reference to the face of the box parallel adjacent to the platen, a pair of panels projecting from respective opposite edges of the platen and positioned along respective opposite side faces of the box parallel embodying the trunnions, each panel comprising an arcuate slot constituting a guideway for a trunnion to travel along, each slot extending from an end thereof near the platen along the panel in a direction away from the platen, the end of each slot that is nearest the platen comprising a bearing for its companion trunnion, the center of curvature of each slot being coincident with the trunnion bearing of the other slot.

3. In a work holder as defined in claim 2, a scale along the arc of each of the arcuate slots.

4. In a work holder as defined in claim 2, a pointer extending from the work-holding device along one of the panels, a scale along the panel proximate to the pointer extending along the path the pointer follows when the work-holding device swings towards or away from the plane of the platen.

5. In a work holder as defined in claim 1, a rod, the box parallel comprising a support for the rod securing it in position to project away from the plane of a face of the box parallel, the support comprising mechanism to adjust the extent that the rod projects, the face of the box parallel from the plane of which the rod projects being a side face with reference to the face of the box parallel adjacent to the platen.

6. In a work holder as defined in claim 5, the rod comprising a scale along its length to measure the lengthwise adjustment of the rod.

7. In a work holder as defined in claim 1, a straight rod, a mount for the rod comprising a shaft and a journal for the shaft secured to the box parallel with its axis perpendicular to the datum face of the box parallel, the shaft comprising a guideway at right angles to its axis for lengthwise adjustment of the rod, the rod comprising a head embodying a perpendicular end surface for the rod, and a clamp for holding the rod in position of lengthwise adjustment.

JOHN A. VERNON.

No references cited. 

